HiHo Kids, with over a million subscribers, is a great channel that is great at letting kids try and explain foods from around the world, new toys and gadgets and meeting interesting and different people. They post a new video on their YouTube channel every day. And one of our new favourites has got to be their Kids Try Snacks From South Africa.

The YouTube channel is doing an excellent job of encouraging kids to explore new traditions and cultures. Coming in contact with people and cultures that are different to yours, can help reduce stereotypes. This makes others seem less far away and different, highlighting that we are all more alike than we think.

BJ Epstein writes about the power of diversity in children’s story books, specifically:

“We know that children’s books can act like both mirrors and windows on the world. Mirrors in that they can reflect on children’s own lives, and windows in that they can give children a chance to learn about someone else’s life…

"Along with the increased worries today about immigrants, refugees, and general 'otherness', some societies seem to be headed towards a sense of false nostalgia…

"Given this is not how the world is or should be, we owe it to young readers to show them reality in the books they’re reading. Perhaps then the next generation will be less frightened of the 'other' if they get to meet them and learn about them from an early age.”

Check out more videos of Kids Try below, and watch their reactions to Pakistani, Jamaican and Australian food. From a South African’s point of view, it’s not the same as seeing those reactions to biltong and Peppermint Crisp, but it’s equally pleasing to see.

Have you found a way to introduce your children to other cultures? How have you brought this into their every day routine? And what pure South African foods would you like other cultures to try? Tell us by emailing chatback@parent24.com and we may publish your comments.